$95.27
Use 95867 for needle EMG of cranial nerve-supplied muscles on one side. Use 92516 for the facial nerve function assessment rather than the needle EMG itself.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
92516 Facial nerve test Medicare reimbursement rates in Arkansas
A focused assessment of facial nerve motor function, reported when evaluating facial weakness, paralysis, or a suspected nerve injury. Compare 92516 office and facility rates across CMS payment localities in Arkansas.
Amounts below use the non-QP conversion factor for participating physicians. These are base physician payments before claim-level adjustments, not patient costs or total hospital charges.
What does Medicare pay for 92516 in Arkansas?
Arkansas has 1 payment locality in this comparison. Use the service location to choose the applicable amount. These are the supported base rates for the payment area shown below, using the same CMS release.
Office / nonfacility
$66.19
1 of 1 localities have a supported rate.
Payment area: Arkansas
One mapped payment locality.
Facility setting
$17.70
1 of 1 localities have a supported rate.
Payment area: Arkansas
One mapped payment locality.
These are locality ranges, not averages or address-specific quotes. A facility-setting amount covers the physician service; it does not include a hospital’s separate bill. Choose a locality below to inspect its calculation, compare other payment areas, or price a percentage of Medicare.
Otolaryngology testing
About 92516: Facial nerve function assessment
A focused assessment of facial nerve motor function, reported when evaluating facial weakness, paralysis, or a suspected nerve injury.
This service evaluates facial nerve motor function, including the patient’s ability to move facial muscles and the symmetry of those movements. It is used in cases such as new facial weakness or paralysis, including suspected Bell palsy or facial nerve injury. Otolaryngologists and other clinicians evaluating facial nerve disorders may perform it in an office or facility setting. The findings can help characterize the deficit and guide further evaluation or treatment.
Report 92516 for a distinct facial nerve function assessment, not merely a brief facial inspection during a general visit. The record should identify the reason for testing, the facial movements or responses assessed, and the findings, including affected side and degree or pattern of weakness when documented. If needle electromyography is performed to assess cranial nerve-supplied muscles, distinguish that service from this functional assessment and report the applicable electrodiagnostic code. CMS payment facts supplied for this code do not specify additional payment-rule details.
Where the value comes from
- Work RVU0.42 · 19%
- Practice expense (office) RVU1.80 · 80%
- Malpractice RVU0.03 · 1%
269
Medicare services in 2024 · #4080 by national volume
This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.
92516 compared with similar codes
Office rates for Arkansas, from the same CMS release.
$115.76
Use 95868 for needle EMG of cranial nerve-supplied muscles on both sides. It is an electrodiagnostic service, not the facial nerve function assessment represented by 92516.
$66.56
92517 evaluates cervical vestibular evoked myogenic responses. It assesses vestibular function, whereas 92516 evaluates facial nerve motor function.
Compare 92516 by payment locality
Find the payment area for your service address, then open its rate page for calculation inputs, release history and the percentage-of-Medicare tool. A city may cross payment-area boundaries; the ZIP lookup above helps resolve the location.
1 of 1 payment localities
Arkansas →
Office / nonfacility
$66.19
Facility
$17.70
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How this local rate is calculated
Each RVU component is multiplied by its own geographic practice cost index (GPCI). The three adjusted components are added, then multiplied by the conversion factor. These are the inputs used for 92516 in Arkansas.
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
11,783
- Code
- 92516
- Physician work
- 0.42
- Practice expense
- 1.80
- Malpractice
- 0.03
GPCI2026.csv
7
- Locality
- Arkansas
- Physician work
- 1.000
- Practice expense
- 0.859
- Malpractice
- 0.515
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 0.42 | × 1.000 | 0.4200 |
| Practice expense | 1.80 | × 0.859 | 1.5462 |
| Malpractice | 0.03 | × 0.515 | 0.0155 |
| Total RVUs | 1.9816 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Office / nonfacility rate, Arkansas$66.19
Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula
Office / nonfacility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 0.42 | 1 |
| Practice expense | 1.8 | 0.859 |
| Malpractice | 0.03 | 0.515 |
(0.42 × 1 + 1.8 × 0.859 + 0.03 × 0.515) × $33.4009 = $66.19
Facility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 0.42 | 1 |
| Practice expense | 0.11 | 0.859 |
| Malpractice | 0.03 | 0.515 |
(0.42 × 1 + 0.11 × 0.859 + 0.03 × 0.515) × $33.4009 = $17.70
The office and facility calculations use their respective practice-expense RVUs. The facility amount here is the physician fee, not a separate hospital or facility bill.
92516 billing questions
When is 92516 more appropriate than an ordinary examination?
Use it for a distinct assessment of facial nerve motor function, such as evaluating facial weakness or paralysis. A brief observation of facial symmetry within a general examination alone does not describe that service.
Is 92516 the same as facial muscle needle EMG?
No. Needle EMG records electrical activity in selected muscles; 92516 represents a facial nerve function assessment. If both are performed, the documentation should distinguish the services.
What findings should the record include?
Document the clinical reason for testing, the movements or responses assessed, and the findings. Record the affected side and any observed asymmetry or weakness.
Can an ear examination be reported on the same date?
A separate otomicroscopic ear examination may be reported when it is performed and documented as a distinct service. The facial nerve assessment alone does not establish that an ear examination occurred.
Should the claim identify which side is affected?
Document the side and relevant findings in the clinical record. The supplied CMS facts do not specify a laterality modifier for this code.
Where these rates come from
FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense, and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indices and the applicable conversion factor. Unavailable or separately priced services are labeled rather than assigned a made-up amount.
Source: RVU26D. Effective 2026-10-01 through the day before 2027-01-01.
11,78092508,,Tx sp lang voice comm group,A,,0.33,0.38,,0.38,NA,0.01,0.72,0.72,7,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,5,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
11,78192511,,Nasopharyngoscopy,A,,0.59,2.84,,0.35,,0.04,3.47,0.98,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,03,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
11,78292512,,Nasal function studies,A,,0.54,1.37,,0.12,,0.04,1.95,0.70,0,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
11,78392516,,Facial nerve function test,A,,0.42,1.80,,0.11,,0.03,2.25,0.56,0,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
11,78492517,,Vemp test i&r cervical,A,,0.78,1.40,,0.21,,0.02,2.20,1.01,0,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,2,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,02,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
11,78592518,,Vemp test i&r ocular,A,,0.78,1.43,,0.22,,0.04,2.25,1.04,0,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,2,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,02,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
11,78692519,,Vemp tst i&r cervical&ocular,A,,1.17,2.32,,0.33,,0.03,3.52,1.53,0,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,2,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,02,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
410112,AL,00,ALABAMA,1.000,0.875,0.566
502102,AK,01,ALASKA*,1.500,1.065,0.551
603102,AZ,00,ARIZONA,1.000,0.969,0.856
707102,AR,13,ARKANSAS,1.000,0.859,0.515
801112,CA,54,BAKERSFIELD,1.019,1.096,0.609
901112,CA,55,CHICO,1.017,1.096,0.536
1001182,CA,71,EL CENTRO,1.017,1.096,0.541